Vertical tank transport systems and related methods

ABSTRACT

An industrial tank transport system used to transport an industrial tank without the use of a trailer. The industrial tank transport system is comprised of four components; a semi-tractor truck, a removable lift system, a dolly, and a tank. When these four components are combined together, the tank can be transported without the use of a conventional semi-tractor trailer. Various combinations of these four components are used to practice the various methods of raising and lowering the tank between a horizontal position and vertical position using the semi-tractor truck, transporting the dolly using the removable lift system and semi-tractor truck, attaching and removing the removable lift system to the semi-tractor truck, and attaching and removing the dolly to and from the tank using the removable lift system and semi-tractor truck.

RELATED APPLICATION

The present application is a Divisional of, and claims the benefit ofpriority to, the United States Patent Application for “VERTICAL TANKTRANSPORT SYSTEMS AND RELATED METHODS Ser. No. 14/171,144, filed on Feb.3, 2014, currently co-pending.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to an industrial tank transportsystem to transport a tank without the use of a trailer. The presentinvention is more particularly, though not exclusively, related to acombination of a semi-tractor truck, a removable lift system, a tank,and a dolly along with methods for transporting an industrial tankwithout need for a tractor trailer, raising and lowering a tank with theremovable lift system to attach and remove the dolly, and raising andlowering tank using semi-tractor truck between a horizontal and verticalposition.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The use of fluids to facilitate drilling and extraction is well known inthe oil and gas industry. Fluid storage facilities are needed on-site toprovide a store of fluid for applications such as hydraulic drilling andfracking. Steel industrial tanks are often used to store drilling fluidor mud because they are robust with long life spans. These storage tankscan be horizontal or vertical. However, whether horizontal or vertical,these steel industrial storage tanks are large and are difficult totransport. In addition, the popularity of vertical tanks is increasingbecause they occupy less land space compared to a horizontal tank ofidentical interior volume.

Ordinarily, large steel industrial tanks are transported by loading themonto a large tractor trailer through the use of a crane or similarlifting device. The tank then needs to be carefully secured to thetrailer and transported to the destination. Often height clearance onfreeways and roads is limited, and tanks loaded onto conventionalflatbed trailers exceed allowable height limits. In order to obtain therequired clearance, these industrial tanks are loaded onto dropdeck oreven double dropdeck trailers having flatbeds lower than the axels ofthe trailer and semi-tractor truck. Unloading steel industrial tanksfrom a dropdeck or double dropdeck trailer is challenging and requireseither using a crane to lift the tank off the trailer or using a winchto drag the tank off of the trailer, causing needless wear and tear onboth the tank and the trailer.

Further, often the tanks are delivered to remote sites that do not havea crane available to lift the tanks from the trailer. Thus, suppliers oftanks are required to haul the trailer with a semi-tractor truckequipped with a crane. The requirement for such a specialized tractortruck that is equipped with a crane increases the weight of the semirig, lowers fuel efficiency, and therefore increases the cost of tankdelivery.

Additionally, dropdeck and double dropdeck trailers have longerwheelbases and lower ground clearance than traditional flatbed trailersand are inherently more difficult to maneuver. The low ground clearanceof dropdeck and double dropdeck trailers is also particularlychallenging in the off road conditions typically encountered in oil andgas fields, where large steel storage containers are needed. Often, suchtrailers can bottom out on and strike the uneven ground causing damageto the underside of the trailers.

Many businesses rent these tanks as opposed to purchasing them outright.The tanks are stored in a central location. Then when rented, the tanksare transported from the central location to a work site for aparticular drilling operation and then collected upon completion ofdrilling operations and transported back to the central location. Thus,there is a need to deliver and collect the tanks as quickly andefficiently as possible.

When tanks are delivered to a remote drilling location, the rentalcompany faces large fuel costs for a variety of reasons. First, thedelivery company incurs a loss of fuel economy by transporting a heavydropdeck trailer in addition to the weight of the tank itself. Secondthe delivery company incurs a loss of fuel economy by either separatelydelivering a crane system, or utilizing a semi-tractor truck equippedwith a crane system. Third, the delivery company incurs a loss of fueleconomy upon the return trip for hauling a heavy unloaded trailer andcrane (either on the truck itself or by way of a separate vehicle).

Collecting a tank suffers from similar efficiency problems for a rentalcompany. First, the rental company has to haul an empty trailer to theparticular location of the tank. In addition, the rental company has todeliver a crane to the tank location in order to place the tank on thetrailer. Finally, the rental company has to make the return trip to thecentral location including both the trailer and the crane.

In light of the above, it would be advantageous to provide a tanktransport system and method for transporting industrial tanks in such away to not use a trailer or a crane, and allow for lifting a tank into avertical position upon delivery and lowering a tank to a verticaltransportation position upon collection. It would further beadvantageous to provide a tank transport system and method to transportand deliver a storage tank without the use of a trailer. It would befurther advantageous to provide a tank transport system and method totransport and deliver a storage tank without the need for a crane. Itwould be further advantageous to provide a tank transport system andmethod to transport and deliver a storage tank which provides ampleground clearance to travel on unpaved roads. It would be furtheradvantageous to provide a tank transport system that is low weight. Itwould be further advantageous to provide a tank transport system andmethod that has a minimal amount of moving parts to provide for quickassembly and disassembly of components of the system to allow thepractice of the various methods. It would be further advantageous toprovide a tank transport system allowing the tank dimensions to bemaximized for interior volume while still meeting the dimensionalrequirements for transportation. It would be further advantageous toprovide a tank transport system which is easy to use, and relativelycost efficient.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention satisfies this need and is directed to anindustrial tank transport system to transport a tank without the use ofa trailer.

(1) Tank Transport System

The industrial tank transport system is comprised of four primarycomponents; a semi-tractor truck, a removable lift system, a dolly, anda tank. When these four components are combined together, the tank canbe transported and positioned for use without the use of a conventionalsemi-tractor trailer. The semi-tractor truck is used to transport theremovable lift system, tank, and dolly to and from the field where thetank is to be used without the use of a trailer.

The removable lift system is generally attached to the semi-tractortruck and is used to raise and lower the tank in order to install orremove the dolly to the tank. Once the dolly is installed on the tank,the lift system is connected to the tank, at the opposite end of theinstalled dolly, effectively converting the semi-tractor truck,removable lift system, tank and dolly into a semi-tractor trailer rigwithout the use of a semi-tractor trailer.

Alternatively, once the dolly is removed from a tank through using acombination of the truck and removable lift system, the removable liftsystem can be removed from the semi-tractor truck. Once so removed, thesemi-tractor truck can then be used to raise the tank from a horizontalposition to a vertical position.

(2) Semi-Tractor Truck

The semi-tractor truck of the present invention has a truck chassis witha front, rear, left, right and a top and bottom. The truck chassis isalso has a cab portion and a utility portion.

The cab portion of the truck chassis is generally located near the frontof the truck chassis and has a cab, engine bay, front axle and a pair offront wheels. Semi-tractor truck cabs, engine bays and the respectiveinteriors and engines located within are well known in the art.

The utility portion of the truck chassis is generally located behind thecab portion and has one or more rear axles wherein each said rear axleis attached to one or more pairs of rear wheels. It is appreciated thatmulti-axle equipped semi-tractor trucks are well known in the art, asare dual wheels connected to each axle, for a total of four wheels peraxle. It is to be appreciated that the present invention is not limitedto any particular axle or wheel configuration.

A fifth wheel is attached the top of the utility portion of the truckchassis. Fifth wheels are also well known in the art and typicallycontain a fifth wheel slot and fifth wheel opening sized to receive andsecure a kingpin. Kingpins are typically found on semi-tractor trailersand are mounted to a kingpin plate. The kingpin plate is ordinarilycapable of rotation with respect to the fifth wheel about the kingpin.

A winch is attached to the top of the utility portion of the truckchassis and in one embodiment, is located between the truck cab and thefifth wheel. The winch is capable of winding and unwinding a winchcable, which terminates in a winch cable end loop.

The semi-tractor truck has a lift system lock designed to prevent aremovable lift system from rotating about the fifth wheel when installedon the semi-tractor winch truck. The lift system lock also provides anadditional means for securing a removable lift system to thesemi-tractor truck. The lift system lock is attached to the top of theutility portion of the truck chassis.

In a preferred embodiment, the lift system lock includes a left staycollar and a right stay collar attached to a left stay bracket and aright stay bracket. The left stay bracket and the right stay bracket areattached to a transverse stay beam fixedly attached to the truck chassissuch that the left stay collar and the right stay collar are a fixeddistance from one another. The right stay collar and left stay collarare sized to receive right and left alignment rails of a removable liftsystem. The right and left stay collars have stay collar holes such thatfasteners may be passed through the left and right stay collars and theleft and right alignment rails respectively in order to secure the sameto the semi-tractor truck.

Finally, the semi-tractor truck has an adjustable tail roller attachedto the rear of the utility portion of the truck chassis. The adjustabletail roller extends across the rear of the truck chassis and is attachedto a left tail roller bracket and a right tail roller bracket. Theadjustable tail roller is capable of 360 degree rotation with respect tothe left tail roller bracket and the right tail roller bracket. The leftand right adjustable tail roller brackets are rotatably attached to theleft and right chassis by way of a tail roller pin such that theadjustable tail roller is capable of movement between a flush positionlevel with the truck chassis and an angled position where the tailroller is above the truck chassis. It is necessary to move theadjustable tail roller to the flush position when either attaching orremoving the removable lift system as set out in more detail below. Itis preferable to move the adjustable tail roller to the angled positionwhen either raising a tank from a horizontal position to a verticalposition or when lowering a tank from a vertical position to ahorizontal position. When in the angled position, it is easier for auser to control the raising or lowering of the tank because theadjustable tail roller is higher off of the ground and therefore makescontact with the tank in a more controllable tipping position.

(3) Removable Lift System

The removable lift system is designed to be quickly and easily removedfrom the semi-tractor truck. When attached to the semi-tractor truck,the removable lift system is meant to serve several purposes. First, theremovable lift system connects the tank to the semi-tractor truck whenthe tank is being transported as part of the tank transport systemwithout the use of a trailer. Second, the removable lift system is usedto raise and lower the tank sufficiently to connect or remove the dolly.Third, the removable lift system is used to transport the dolly withouta tank. Fourth, the removable lift system is used in combination withthe dolly in order to allow the semi-tractor truck to easily attach orremove the removable lift system.

The removable lift system includes a boom lift base frame with a leftframe rail, a right frame rail, a transverse stay beam and a kingpinplate. The left frame rail and the right frame rail are parallel to eachother and held a fixed distance apart by the transverse stay beammounted to a top of the left frame rail and the right frame rail. Thefixed distance between the left frame rail and the right frame rail isalso maintained by the kingpin plate mounted to the bottom of the leftframe rail and said right frame rail. A kingpin is attached to thekingpin plate and is designed to slidably insert into the fifth wheel ofthe semi-tractor truck. A boom lift pivot base is also attached to theboom lift base frame behind the transverse stay beam.

The removable lift system also includes a boom lift having a boom liftmain arm, a boom lift support arm, and extendable boom lift arm eachhaving a front and a rear and a top and a bottom and a left side andright side. The front of the boom lift main arm is rotatably attached tothe boom lift base frame at the boom lift pivot base. The front of theboom lift support arm is rotatably attached to the rear of the boom liftmain arm. The front of the extendable boom lift is rotatably attached tothe rear of the boom lift support arm.

The removable lift system also includes an extendable boom lift with afront and a rear and partially housed within the extendable boom liftarm such that the rear of the extendable boom lift can extend andcontract from the extendable boom lift arm. A turning coupling iscoupled between the front of the extendable boom lift and a transverselifting bar.

The removable lift system also includes one or more adjustable boom liftstands, each having a boom lift stand base, boom lift stand foot andboom lift stand collar. The boom lift stand foot is slidably insertedinto one end of the boom lift stand base. The other end of the boom liftstand base is attached to the boom lift collar. The boom lift collar iscapable of being slidably inserted onto the transverse lifting bar.

The transverse lifting bar can be used to connect to a tank in order toraise or lower the tank to either attach or remove a dolly from thetank. In an embodiment, the transverse lifting bar is connected to atank by way of tank grapplers which are connected to bar couplingcollars slidably inserted onto the transverse lifting bar.

Actuators are used to operate the boom lift main arm, boom lift supportarm, extendable boom lift arm, and extendable boom lift such that thetransverse lifting bar can be moved in a an upward direction, a downwarddirection, a retract direction and an extend direction or anycombination of such directions.

(4) Tank

The present invention includes a tank that is sufficiently reinforced tobe raised and lowered between a horizontal position and a verticalposition and to be transported by way of the semi-tractor truck,removable lift system and dolly as described herein without the use of atrailer.

The tank includes a hollow body, a sled frame, a base frame, and anumber of support members. The sled frame is connected to the side ofthe hollow body and is also connected to the base frame. The base frameis also connected to the hollow body by way of support members. The baseframe also includes tank base upper brackets and tank base lowerbrackets to interface and connect with dolly upper brackets and dollylower brackets when connecting the dolly to the tank in order totransport the tank.

The tank also includes a tank lifting bar mounted to the sled frame,opposite the base frame. The tank lifting bar is meant to be the primarymember that interacts with the removable lift system. The removable liftsystem raises and lowers the tank by way of the tank lifting bar inorder to facilitate the removal or attachment of the dolly from or tothe tank, and for coupling the tank to the removable lift system fortransporting the tank.

A tank lifting panel is rotatably attached to the tank lifting bar andhas a lifting line panel hole with a lifting line connected to the tanklifting panel by way of the lifting line panel hole. The tank liftingline is of a sufficient length to enable a user to connect the tanklifting line to the winch cable of the semi-tractor truck when eitherraising or lowering a tank between a horizontal or vertical position.

(5) Dolly

The present invention includes a dolly designed to be easily connectedand disconnected from the tank in order to transport the same. The useof the dolly in combination with the tank and removable lift system ofthe present invention allows the semi-tractor truck to transport thetank without use of a semi-tractor trailer. It is advantageous to use adolly in combination with the removable lift system rather than aconventional semi-tractor trailer because the dolly is substantiallysmaller and lighter than a conventional semi-tractor trailer.Additionally, a larger size tank can be easily transported withoutexceeding the maximum clearance on U.S. roadways because the additionalheight added by the trailer is avoided.

In its most basic form, the dolly has a frame, suspension, axle andwheels and a means for connecting the dolly to the tank. In oneembodiment, the dolly frame is made up of a top frame, a tank connectorframe, and reservoir frame. The top frame and tank connector frame areconnected at an upper tank connector frame rail and by the reservoirframe and together form a rigid frame assembly.

Upper dolly brackets and lower dolly brackets are mounted to the frontof the tank connector frame of the dolly. The dolly upper brackets anddolly lower brackets are meant to interface with the tank base upperbrackets and tank base lower brackets when connecting the dolly to thebase frame of the tank. Through holes in the dolly upper and dolly lowerbrackets corresponding to through holes in the tank base upper and lowerbrackets allow fasteners to secure the dolly upper brackets and dollylower brackets to the tank base upper brackets and lower bracketsrespectively.

The dolly is equipped with an air brake system and front and rear signallights. When connected to the tank for transport, supply lines can beconnected between the rear service panel of the removable lift systemand a dolly service line panel, providing air and electrical power forthe dolly air brake system and rear signal lights. Once so connected,the tank can be effectively transported using the combination of thesemi-tractor truck, removable lift system and dolly.

When the dolly is not in use for transporting the tank, it can be easilybe stowed on the removable lift system. Boom lift guides mounted underthe axle of the dolly allow the operator of the removable lift system toguide the boom lift support arm such that the dolly will be centered onthe boom lift support arm. Tank grapplers on the transverse lifting barmay then be used to secure the tank connector frame to the removablelift system. Supply lines can then be connected between the rear servicepanel of the removable lift system and the dolly service line panel suchthat the electrical power is provided to the front signal lights.

(6) Method of Removing Dolly from Tank Using Removable Lift System

When a tank is delivered to its intended location by the tank transportsystem of the present invention, it is necessary to remove the dollyfrom the tank before the tank can be lifted into a vertical position.When a tank is connected to the dolly and the removable lift system, thetank is generally oriented in a transport position such that the sledframe of the tank is substantially parallel to and above the ground. Insuch a position, it is impossible to simply disconnect the dolly fromthe tank because of the weight of the tank on the fasteners connectingthe tank to the dolly. To overcome this problem, the lift system is usedin combination with a pivot block to eliminate the weight on thefasteners such that the fasteners can easily be removed from the upperand lower dolly brackets and upper and lower tank base brackets.

First, the removable lift system lifts the tank in an upward directionfrom the transport position to a first inclined position. Second, apivot block is placed underneath the sled frame near the center of thetank. Third, the removable lift system lowers the tank from a firstinclined position to a first declined position such that the sled frameof the tank comes into contact with the pivot block and begins to pivotabout the pivot block. Once the tank has been fully lowered to the firstdeclined position, the weight of the tank rests on the pivot blockinstead of the fasteners connecting the upper and lower dolly bracketsto the upper and lower tank base brackets. Fourth, once in the firstdeclined position, the fasteners are removed from the lower dollybrackets and the lower tank base brackets. Fifth, the tank is raised bythe removable lift system from the first declined position to a secondinclined position. As the tank is raised to the second inclinedposition, the tank base frame moves towards the ground and the dollylower brackets begin to separate from the tank base lower brackets. Oncethe tank base is in the second inclined position, the tank base is incontact with the ground at a point of contact. Sixth, the fasteners areremoved from the upper dolly brackets and upper tank base brackets. Thedolly is then fully disconnected from the tank and can easily be rolledfrom the tank in an away direction. Seventh, the tank is lowered fromthe second inclined position to a resting position such that the sledframe of the tank rests on the ground.

In order for the tank to be ready to be lifted by the semi-tractortruck, the tank must also be disconnected from the removable liftsystem. To remove, the tank grapplers are moved from the closed positionto the open position. Once in the open position, the transverse liftingbar of the removable lift system is lowered in a downward direction andthen moved away from the tank in a retract direction until the tankgrapplers are fully clear of the tank lifting bar. The tank is nowresting in a horizontal position on the ground and is ready to be liftedinto a vertical position for use.

(7) Method of Mounting the Dolly to the Removable Lift System forTransportation

Once the tank has been delivered and positioned in place for use, thedolly is then attached to the removable lift system for transport. Thedolly is designed to easily be transported by the semi-tractor truck andremovable lift system according to the following method: First, thesemi-tractor truck connected to the removable lift system moves in areverse direction with the tank grapplers in an open position until thetank grapplers are directly underneath the tank connector frame of thedolly. As the semi-tractor truck moves underneath the dolly, the leftand right adjustable boom lift guides ensure that the extendable boomlift will be centered on the axle of the dolly. Second, a supply line isconnected from the rear service panel of the removable lift system tothe dolly service panel such that the front signal lights of the dollyare operational. Third, the tank grapplers are then moved from the openposition to the closed position such that the tank grapplers secure thetank base frame. Fourth, the dolly is raised in an upward direction 601such that the dolly can be transported without coming into contact withthe ground.

(8) Method of Removing the Removable Lift System from the Semi-TractorTruck

In order to use the semi-tractor truck to raise or lower a tank betweena horizontal position and a vertical position, the removable lift systemmust be removed from the semi-tractor truck. Ordinarily, when on thetruck, the removable lift system is in a transportation position. Inorder to remove the removable lift system from the semi-tractor truck,the removable lift system must be placed in a storage position byremoving the boom lift stands from the transverse stay beam, rotated 180degrees such that boom lift stand feet face the ground, and then theboom lift stands are reattached to the transverse stay beam.

Once the boom lift stands are in the storage position and the wheels ofthe dolly are in contact with the ground, stay collar pins are pulledfrom the stay collar holes which had secured the left and right framerails of the removable lift system. Next the supply lines, electricalsignal lines and hydraulic lines are disconnected from the front servicepanel of the removable lift system, and the disengages the lockingmechanism to release the kingpin from the fifth wheel.

Finally, the semi-tractor truck moves in a forward direction and awayfrom the removable lift system. Once the truck has disconnected with theremovable lift system and the stay collars and the fifth wheel, theremovable lift system is free standing on the boom lift stands and thedolly wheels. The semi-tractor truck is now ready to be used to raise orlower a tank between a horizontal and vertical position.

(9) Method of Raising a Vertical Tank from a Horizontal Position to aVertical Position Using the Semi-Tractor Truck

Once a tank is delivered to a work site, it is desired to move the tankfrom a horizontal position to a vertical position. When in a verticalposition, the tank occupies less space in the field. The verticaltransport system can be used to raise a tank from a vertical position toa horizontal position by first removing the dolly as set forth above.Next, the removable lift system is removed from the semi-tractor truck,as set forth above. Only the semi-tractor truck is needed to lift thetank from a horizontal position to a vertical position. First, the winchcable is connected to the lifting line of the tank. Second, theadjustable tail roller is moved from the flush position to the angledposition so that the tank will be easier to control as it lifted. Third,the winch cable and lifting line are wound in a winding direction whichpulls the tank up and over the adjustable tail roller such that the tanksled frame is in contact with the adjustable tail roller of thesemi-tractor truck. Fourth, the semi-tractor truck then moves in areverse direction where the adjustable tail roller moves along the tanksled frame and the winch cable continues to be wound in the windingdirection to remove slack in the cable until the tank reaches acontrollable tipping position. As the semi-tractor truck moves in areverse direction, the winch cable and lifting line are moved in anunwinding position to maintain tension in the lifting line, but stillallow the tank to continue to rise to the controllable tipping position.Fifth, once the controllable tipping position is reached, the winchcable and lifting line are moved in an unwinding position to allowgravity to act on the tank to pull it to a vertical position. Sixth, thewinch cable and the lifting line are disconnected and the tank is freestanding and ready for use.

(10) Method of Lowering a Vertical Tank from a Vertical Position to aHorizontal Position Using the Semi-Tractor Truck

The semi-tractor truck can also be used to lower a tank from a verticalposition to a horizontal position. First, the removable lift system mustbe removed from the truck as set forth above and in the detailedspecification below and the adjustable tail roller be placed in theangled position. Second, the winch cable of the semi-tractor truck isunwound sufficiently and connected to the lifting line of the tank.Third, the truck is positioned with its tail roller against the sledframe of the tank. Fourth, the winch cable and lifting line are moved inwinding direction causing the base frame of the tank to rotate off theground about the point of contact of the base frame and the sled frame.Fifth, the semi-tractor truck begins to move in a forward directionwhile the lifting line is continued to be moved in winding direction.Sixth, the truck continues to move in a forward direction until itreaches the controlled tipping position, then the lifting line is thenmoved in an unwinding direction allowing the adjustable tail roller tocontinue to roll along the sled frame until the tank lifting bar haspassed over the adjustable tail roller. Seventh, the truck stops and thelifting line and winch cable are moved in an unwinding direction untilthe tank sled frame is in contact with the ground. The winch cable isthen disconnected from the tank lifting line.

(11) Method of Attaching the Removable Lift System to the Semi-TractorTruck.

When a tank has been delivered to its destination, it is necessary toreattach the semi-tractor truck to the removable lift system and dolly.Or if collecting a tank that has recently been placed in a horizontalposition from a vertical position, in order to transport the tank usingthe tank transportation system, the removable lift system must first beattached to the semi-tractor truck. Installing the removable lift systemonto the semi-tractor truck is best performed with the removable liftsystem and dolly in the storage position.

First, the adjustable tail roller of the semi-tractor truck ispositioned to the flush position. Second, the semi-tractor truck isoriented with the removable lift system such that the left and rightstay collars of the semi-tractor truck are generally oriented with theleft and right aligning rails of the removable lift system. Second, thetruck moves in a reverse direction in order to slidably insert the leftand right alignment rails in the left and right stay collars as well asthe kingpin into the fifth wheel. The truck stops moving in a reversedirection when the kingpin is properly seated in the fifth wheel and theleft and right aligning rails are within the left and right stay collarsand the kingpin is secured and the locking pins are inserted through thestay collars. Third, the adjustable boom lift stands are moved from thestorage position to the transportation position. Fourth, the supplylines and hydraulic lines of the semi-tractor truck are connected to thefront service panel of the removable lift system.

If a tank has been recently delivered, then the dolly is raised by theremovable lift system until the wheels of the dolly are sufficiently offthe ground in order to allow the semi-tractor truck to transport thedolly. If a tank has just been lowered from a vertical position to ahorizontal position, then the dolly is removed from the removable liftsystem and connected to the tank as set forth more fully below.

(12) Method of Attaching Dolly to Tank Using Removable Lift System.

Once a tank has been lowered from a vertical position to a horizontalposition and the removable lift system has been attached to thesemi-tractor truck, the dolly must be connected to the tank. First, thedolly is manually rolled toward the base of the tank such that the upperand lower dolly brackets face the upper and lower tank base brackets.Second, the first and second dolly upper brackets are connected to thefirst and second upper tank base brackets. Third, the semi-tractor truckmoves in a reverse direction towards the tank lifting bar of the tankand with the tank grapplers in the open position. Once directlyunderneath the tank lifting bar, the grapplers are moved from the openposition to the closed position securely around the tank lifting bar.Fourth, the upper end of the tank is lifted by the removable lift systemsuch that the tank pivots about the base frame sufficiently to enable apivot block to be placed underneath the sled frame. Fifth, the tank isthen lowered by the removable lift system such that the tank pivotsabout the pivot block, causing the first and second lower dolly bracketsto come into contact and alignment with the first and second lower tankbase brackets. Sixth, the first and second lower dolly brackets arefastened to the first and such lower tank base brackets. Seventh, thetank is raised by the removable lift system sufficiently to allow theremoval of the pivot blocks. Eighth, supply lines are connected betweenthe rear service panel of the removable lift system and the dollyservice line panel in order to enable the braking system and electricalsignals of the dolly. Once so connected, the tank is ready fortransportation by the semi-tractor truck without the use of aconventional semi-tractor trailer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The nature, objects, and advantages of the present invention will becomemore apparent to those skilled in the art after considering thefollowing detailed description in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, in which like reference numerals designate like partsthroughout, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of the tank transport system, including atruck, a removable lift system, a tank and a dolly;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the semi-tractor winch truck having anadjustable tail roller, and a detailed view of the adjustable tailroller configured in the flush position;

FIG. 3 is a rear isometric view of the utility portion of the truckchassis showing the adjustable tail roller extending across the rear ofthe utility portion of the truck chassis and the lift system lock;

FIG. 4 is a top view of the semi-tractor winch truck showing the winchsystem, a fifth wheel, a removable lift system frame and an adjustabletail roller;

FIG. 5 is an isometric view of a removable lift system in atransportation position showing the boom lift main arm, boom liftsupport arm, extendable boom lift arm, transverse lift arm, and barcoupling collars;

FIG. 6 is a side view of a removable lift system in a transportationposition;

FIG. 7 is a top view of a removable lift system in a transportationposition;

FIG. 8 is a back view of a removable lift system in a transportationposition showing the boom lift main arm, boom lift support arm,extendable boom lift arm, transverse lift arm, and bar coupling collars;

FIG. 9 is a front view of a removable lift system in a transportationposition showing the left and right aligning rails and the kingpin;

FIG. 10 is an isometric view of a vertical tank having a generallycylindrical shape and having a sled frame and a base frame;

FIG. 11 is a back view of a vertical tank in the vertical and uprightposition showing the attached sled frame;

FIG. 12 is a bottom view of a vertical tank in the horizontal positionshowing the attached base frame;

FIG. 13 is a side isometric view of the dolly showing the top frame, atank connector frame, and reservoir frame;

FIG. 13-1 is a side isometric view of the dolly top frame, tankconnector frame and reservoir frame with the remaining componentsremoved from this view for clarity;

FIG. 14 is a front view of the dolly showing the air brake reservoir andrear-facing light assembly, along with the dolly upper brackets anddolly lower brackets;

FIG. 14-1 is a close up isometric view of the first dolly upper bracketextending from the tank connector frame;

FIG. 14-2 is a close up isometric view of the first dolly upper bracketconnected with the tank base upper bracket and secured with a pinthereby connecting the dolly to the tank;

FIG. 14-3 is a close up isometric view of the first dolly lower bracketextending from the tank connector frame;

FIG. 14-4 is a close up isometric view of the first dolly lower bracketconnected with the tank base lower bracket and secured with a pinthereby further connecting the dolly to the tank;

FIG. 15 is a rear view of the dolly chassis showing axle with left andright boom guides, mud flaps extending over the wheels and rear signallights extending housed in a rear signal light support plate;

FIG. 16 is a top view of the dolly chassis showing the upper frame andwheel pairs, the air brake drums, air relay, supply line, control line,signal line and air line used to connect the air brakes and lights tothe truck;

FIG. 17 is an isometric view of the dolly, with the tires removed forclarity, and showing the axle supported by a leaf spring assembly, andthe top frame, tank connector frame, and reservoir frame, and the airbrake drums, air relay, supply line, control line, signal line and airline used to connect the air brakes and lights to the truck;

FIGS. 18A-18F shows the method to travel with a vertical tank, deliverthe tank to a location, and to remove an attached dolly from the tank;

FIG. 19A-19C shows the method to remove the vertical tank from theremovable lift system by opening the tank grapplers and moving thelifting assembly away from the tank;

FIG. 20A-20C shows the dolly being installed on the removable liftsystem for storage and transport;

FIG. 20D is a cross section of the dolly installed on the removable liftsystem showing the left and right boom guides aligning and centering thedolly on the boom lift extendable arm;

FIGS. 21A-21H shows the removable lift system configured in the storedposition and being removed from the winch truck by installing left andright stands to extend downwards to the ground, lifting the boom arms,disengaging the fifth wheel, and then the truck driving off with theremovable lift system detached;

FIGS. 22A-22E shows a vertical tank in the horizontal position and thenbeing lifted to the upright, vertical position using the truck and thewinch for a controlled lifting and tilting of the tank into a verticalposition;

FIGS. 23A-23F shows the upright vertical tank being lowered to ahorizontal position using the truck and winch for a controlled loweringand tilting of the tank into a horizontal position on the ground;

FIGS. 24A-24D shows the removable lift system being installed on thewinch truck by reversing the truck under the removable lift system toengage the kingpin into the fifth wheel, and the stay beams into thestay collar; and

FIG. 25A-25E shows the installation of the dolly to a horizontallypositioned tank, and the tank transport system configured to transport avertical tank.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring initially to FIG. 1, a tank transport system 10 is generallydisclosed and includes a semi-tractor truck 100, a removable lift system200, a vertical tank 300 and a dolly 400. The removable lift system 200couples the semi-tractor truck 100 to the vertical tank 300. The dolly400 connected to the opposite end of the vertical tank 300 such that thesemi-tractor truck 100 can transport the vertical tank 300 without theuse of a trailer.

Truck

Referring next to FIG. 2, a right side view of a semi-tractor truck 100is generally disclosed and includes a truck chassis 110 with a utilityportion 120 and a cab portion 180. The truck chassis 110 also has afront 112, a rear 113, a top 114, a bottom 115 and a left frame rail 116(not shown) and a right frame rail 117.

The cab portion 180 of the semi-tractor winch truck includes a cab 182that encloses a conventional truck interior used by an operator (notshown) and an engine bay 184 that houses an engine (not shown).

The utility portion 120 of the semi-tractor winch truck chassis 110begins immediately behind the cab portion 180 of the chassis andcontinues to the rear 113 of the truck chassis 110. Typically, the truckchassis 110 will have a front axle 186 having a pair of front wheels 188below the engine bay 184 and dual rear axles 152 below the utilityportion 120. In a preferred embodiment, each rear axle 152 is equippedwith two rear wheels 154 on each side. Thus the utility portion of thechassis is supported by eight total wheels. In an alternativeembodiment, each rear axle 152 is equipped with only one rear wheel 154on each side. It is to be appreciated that the present invention is notlimited to any particular configuration of rear axles or rear wheels.

The utility portion 120 of the truck chassis 110 is equipped with awinch 156, a fifth wheel 158, lift system lock 140 and an adjustabletail roller 160. As can be more fully seen in conjunction with FIGS.22-23, the winch 156 and adjustable tail roller 160 are used incombination to raise and lower a vertical tank 300 (not shown). In apreferred embodiment, the winch 156 is placed adjacent to the cab 182 ofthe truck 100. The winch 156 can be operated by way of an electricalsystem or hydraulic system, or any other winch operating system known inthe art. The winch 156 has a spool of winch cable 157 which can beextended or wound based upon operation of the winch 156.

The fifth wheel 158 is located on top 114 of the utility portion 120 ofthe truck chassis 110 and between the rear axles 152 of the semi-tractortruck chassis 110. Fifth wheels 158 are known in the art, and aregenerally horse shoe or semi-wheel shaped devices mounted horizontallyover the rear axles of a semi-tractor to serve as a coupling for asemitrailer. In conventional semi-tractor trailers, a kingpin 242 (seegenerally FIGS. 5 through 9) is slidably inserted into a fifthwheel slot159 (shown in FIG. 4) until secured by a fifthwheel locking mechanism(not shown), allowing the trailer to rate about the top of thefifthwheel 158.

Referring next to FIG. 3, a rear isometric view of the semi-tractortruck 100 is generally shown. As can be seen in FIG. 3, the adjustabletail roller 160 extends across the width of the rear of the truckchassis 110, terminating on each side of the semi-tractor truck 100 in aleft tail roller bracket 161 (not shown) and a right tail roller bracket162. The adjustable tail roller is capable of 360 degree axial rotationwithin the left and right roller brackets 161 and 162.

Returning to FIG. 2, the left and right roller brackets 161 and 162 arerotatably connected to left chassis frame 116 and right chassis frame117. In a preferred embodiment, the left and right roller brackets 161and 162 are attached to the left and right chassis frame 116 and 117 bytail roller pin 167. The left and right tail roller brackets 161 and 162are capable of pivoting with respect to the truck chassis 110 such thatthe adjustable tail roller 160 can be move in direction 163 from a flushposition 164 to an angled position 166.

As seen in FIG. 2, when the adjustable tail roller 160 is moved to theflush position 164, the adjustable tail roller is flush with the top 114of utility portion 120 of the chassis 110. As seen in FIG. 2, When theadjustable tail roller is moved to the angled position 166, theadjustable tail roller 160 is located a higher distance 20 from theground 30 compared to when the adjustable tail roller 160 is in theflush position 164.

Returning to FIG. 3, the utility portion of the truck chassis includes alift system lock 140 for locking the removable lift system 200 (notshown) to the semi-tractor truck 100. The lift system lock 140 includesa transverse stay beam 142 rigidly mounted to a left frame reinforcement146 (not shown) and a right frame reinforcement 147. The left framereinforcement 146 is attached to the left chassis frame 116 of the truckchassis between the winch 156 and the fifth wheel 158. Similarly, theright frame reinforcement 147 is attached to the right chassis frame 117of the truck chassis 110 between the winch 156 and the fifth wheel 158.The transverse stay beam 142 is roughly the same height as the top ofthe fifth wheel 158.

Referring now to FIG. 4, a top view of the semi-tractor truck 100 isgenerally shown. As can be seen in FIG. 4, a left stay bracket 144 and aright stay bracket 145 are each attached to the top of the transversestay beam 142, a fixed distance 156 apart from one another. Similarly, aleft stay collar 150 and a right stay collar 151 are each attached tothe left stay bracket 144 and the right stay bracket 145 respectively,such that the left stay collar 150 and the right stay collar 151 arealso a fixed distance 156 apart from one another. The adjustable tailroller 160 is seen next to the rear 113 of the semi-tractor truck 100

Removable Lift System

The removable lift system 200 is designed to be removably attached tothe semi-tractor truck 100 described above. Referring now to FIG. 5, theremovable lift system of the present invention is generally shown with aboom lift base frame 220 and a boom lift 250.

The boom lift base frame 220 has a left frame rail 222, a right framerail 224, a transverse stay beam 230 and a kingpin plate 240. The leftframe rail 222 and the right frame rail 224 are parallel and spacedapart by distance 153 which is the same fixed distance as the left staycollar 150 from the right stay collar 151 on the utility portion 120 ofthe 110 chassis of the truck 100. At the end of the left frame rail 222,a left aligning rail 226 is rigidly attached, and at the end of theright frame rail 224 a right aligning rail 228 is rigidly attached. Theleft and right aligning rails 226 and 228 extend longitudinally from theleft and right frame rails 222 and 224 respectively, and each terminatein a pyramidal tip 229. The aligning rails 226 and 228 are dimensionedto have a clearance fit with the left and right stay collars 150 and 151of the transverse lock system 140 of the semi-tractor truck 100. Whenattaching the removable lift system 200, if the alignment between thealigning rails and the stay collars is slightly off, the pyramidal tips229 serve to guide the aligning rails 226 and 228 through the staycollars 150 and 151.

The transverse stay beam 230 is connected to the top surface of the leftframe rail 222 and the right frame rail 224 near the front of the leftframe rail 222 and the right frame rail 224 and behind the locationwhere the aligning rails 226 and 228 are rigidly attached to the leftand right frame rails 222 and 224. A front service panel 270 is mountedon top of the transverse stay beam 230. The front service panel 270contains service line connectors 272 for connecting to the truck airsupply line 174, the truck air control line 176, the truck electricalsignal line 178, and the truck hydraulic lines 179, all of whichoriginate from the truck 100 (not shown). Hydraulic control lines thenextend from the front service panel 270 to various hydraulic actuatorsof the boom lift 250 identified more fully below. Along the right framerail 224, directly aft of the boom lift pivot base 235, are usercontrols 236 for the boom lift 250.

The kingpin plate 240 is connected to the bottom surface of the leftframe rail 222 and right frame rail 224 near the middle of the leftframe rail 222 and the right frame rail 224. The kingpin plate 240 issized to rest on the surface of the fifth wheel 158 of the truck 100. Anoptional middle frame rail 225 is shown mounted transverse to and inbetween the left frame rail 222 and the right frame rail 224. The middleframe rail 225 adds structural rigidity to the boom lift base frame 220and to reinforce the kingpin plate 240.

The kingpin plate 240 and the transverse stay beam 230 ensure that thedistance 153 between the left frame rail 222 and the right frame rail240 is maintained such that the left frame rail 222 and the right framerail 224 are substantially parallel to one another. When equipped with amiddle frame rail 225, the middle frame rail 225 also ensures that thedistance between the left frame rail 222 and the right frame rail 240 ismaintained such the left frame rail 222 and the right frame rail 224 areparallel to one another.

Immediately aft of the transverse stay beam 230 is a boom lift pivotbase 235. The boom lift 250 is rotatably attached to the boom lift pivotbase 235 as set forth more fully below.

Finally, a left main arm actuator support plate 254 (not shown) andright main arm actuator support plate 256 is connected to the rear endof the left frame rail 222 and the right frame rail 224 respectively. Ascan best be seen in FIG. 7, the left main arm actuator support plate 254also is connected to a rear service panel 295. A supply line 274,control line 275 and signal line 276 run from the front service panel250 to a rear service panel 295.

The boom lift includes a boom lift main arm 252, a boom lift support arm260, and a boom lift extendable arm 280, each having a front and a rearand a top and a bottom and a left side and right side.

The front of the boom lift main arm 252 is rotatably attached to theboom lift pivot base 235 with boom lift pivot pins 244 such that theboom lift main arm 252 can rotate with respect to the boom lift pivotbase 235 about boom lift pivot pins 244.

A right main arm actuator 257 is attached to the right main arm actuatorsupport plate 256 and to the right side of the boom lift main arm 252.As can be better seen in FIG. 7, a left main arm actuator 255 isattached to the left main arm actuator support plate 254 and to the leftside of the boom lift main arm 252. The left and right boom lift mainarm actuators 255 and 257 raise and lower the boom lift main arm 252about the boom lift pivot base 235. In a preferred embodiment, the leftand right boom lift main arm actuators 255 and 257 are operated byhydraulic fluid supplied by the semi-tractor truck 100, which passesthrough the front service panel 270 and through the hydraulic controllines 278 to the actuators 255 and 257. Those actuators 255 and 257 arecontrolled with the controls 236.

The front of the boom lift support arm 260 is rotatably attached to therear of boom lift main arm 252 at pivot point 266. A boom lift supportarm actuator 262 is attached to the bottom of the boom lift main arm 252at support arm brackets 264 and to boom lift support arm 260 such thatthe boom lift support arm can rotated about its connection with the boomlift main arm at pivot point 266 when the boom lift support arm actuator262 is extended or contracted. In a preferred embodiment, the boom liftsupport arm actuator 262 is operated by hydraulic fluid supplied by thesemi-tractor truck 100, which passes through the front service panel 270and through the hydraulic control lines 278 to the actuator 262. Theboom lift support arm actuator 262 is controlled with the controls 236.

The extendable boom lift arm 280 partially houses an extendable boomlift 285. The extendable boom lift arm 280 is rotatably connected to therear of the boom lift support arm 260 at a connection point 282. A boomlift extendable arm actuator 286 is connected to the bottom of the boomlift support arm 260 and to the top of the rear of the boom liftextendable arm 280. In a preferred embodiment, the boom lift extendablearm actuator 286 is hydraulically actuated in the same manner describedfor actuators 255, 257, and 262.

The extendable boom lift 285 has a front and a rear. As seen in FIG. 5,the rear of extendable boom lift 285 is capable of movement in an extenddirection 615 and a retract direction 614. When moved in the extenddirection 615, the extendable boom lift 285 extends outward from thefront of the boom lift extendable arm 280. When moved in the contractdirection 614, the extendable boom lift 285 retracts into the front ofthe boom lift extendable arm 280. The front of the extendable boom lift285 is connected to a turning coupling 287. The turning coupling 287 isthen connected to a transverse lifting bar 290.

As seen in FIG. 5, when actuated, the boom lift main arm 252, boom liftsupport arm 260, extendable boom lift arm 280 and extendable boom lift285 cooperatively work together to move the transverse lifting bar 290an upward direction 601, a downward direction 602, a retract direction614 and an extend direction 615 or any combination of said directions.

Bar coupling collars 210 are slidably placed over each end of thetransverse lifting bar 290. The bar coupling collars are each held inplace by a retaining pin 212 placed through the transverse lifting bar290. The bar coupling collars 210 attach to the tank for installation ofthe dolly, transportation of the tank, or other various purposes.Terminating at one end of each of the bar coupling collars 210 are tankgrapplers 215. The tank grapplers 215 are used to attach to the tank 300or to the dolly 400 as set forth in more detail below. In FIG. 5, thetank grapplers 215 are shown in a closed position 216. As set forth inmore detail in FIG. 6, the tank grapplers 215 are shown in partialdashed lines to depict an open position 217.

Referring now to FIG. 6, a right side view of the removable lift systemis generally shown. A kingpin 242 is rigidly attached and extends fromthe bottom center of the kingpin plate 240. The kingpin 242 is sized tobe slidably inserted into the fifth wheel slot 159 and latch into thefifth wheel opening 155 of the fifth wheel 158 of the semi-tractor truck100.

Referring now to FIG. 7, a top view of the removable lift system 200 isgenerally shown. The transverse lifting bar 290 is capable of rotationwith respect to the boom lift extendable arm 280 via the turningcoupling 287.

Referring now to FIG. 8, a back view of the removable lift system 200 isgenerally shown. In a preferred embodiment, the removable lift system200 is equipped with two identical adjustable boom lift stands 231. Theadjustable boom lift stands 231 have an adjustable boom lift stand base232, an adjustable boom lift stand foot 233, and an adjustable boom liftstand collar 234. One end of the adjustable boom lift stand base 232 issized to slidably receive the adjustable boom lift stand foot 233. Theopposite end of the adjustable boom lift stand base 232 terminates in aboom lift stand collar 234. The boom lift stand collar 234 is sized toslidably fit over either end of the transverse stay beam 230. The boomlift stand collar 234 is equipped with a boom lift stand hole 238.Similarly, the transverse stay beam 230 is equipped with a matching boomlift hole 244 (Best seen in FIG. 21D) such that when a boom lift standcollar is slid over the transverse stay beam 230 such that the boom liftstand holes 238 of the boom lift stand collar and the boom lift holes244 of the transverse stay beam 230 are in alignment, a boom lift standpin 245 can be used to secure the boom lift stand 231 in place.

Referring now to FIG. 9, a front view of the removable lift system 200is generally shown. FIG. 9 depicts the adjustable boom lift stands 231in a transportation position 267. The adjustable boom lift stands 231are in a transportation position 267 when the adjustable boom lift standfeet 233 are faced opposite the ground (see FIGS. 21A, C and D). Whenthe adjustable boom lift stand feet 233 face the ground, the adjustableboom lift stands 231 are in a storage position 268 (see FIGS. 21B, E andF).

Tank

Referring next to FIG. 10, an isometric view of the vertical tank 100 isshown. The tank 300 includes a large hollow body 310 for holdingmaterials such as water, drilling mud, or drilling wastes.

In a preferred embodiment, the hollow body 310 consists of a cylindricalwall 317, a conical bottom 311, a top panel 345 and a lower valve 316.The cylindrical wall has a top 341, a bottom 343 and a circumference342. The top panel 345 is connected with and encloses the top 341 of thecylindrical wall 317. A top access door 370 allows for access throughthe top panel 345 to examine the contents held within tank 300.

As shown in FIG. 11, the conical bottom 311 tapers from a top portion340 to a bottom portion. The top portion 340 of the conical bottom 311is generally the same circumference 342 as the circumference 342 of thecylindrical wall 317 and is connected to the bottom 343 of thecylindrical wall 317. The bottom portion 342 of the conical bottom isenclosed by the lower valve 316.

The conical bottom 311 facilitates the flow of materials out of the tank300 through the lower valve 316. The lower valve 316 is connected to thebottom portion 342 of the conical bottom 311 such that the lower valve316 can be opened to allow fluid or other materials stored in the tank300 to pass out of the tank 300 through the lower valve 316. When in avertical position, the lower valve 316 is above the base frame 312 toallow for ease of connecting various plumbing fixtures to the lowervalve 316 when the tank 300 is in use.

In a preferred embodiment, the tank 300 has a base frame 312 and a sledframe 314. For a vertical tank 310, the base frame 312 is located on thebottom of the tank 300 and the sled frame 314 runs along the cylindricalwall 317 of the tank 300, terminating in a tank lifting bar 320 oppositethe base frame 312.

The base frame 312 includes base frame members 313. In a preferredembodiment, the base frame members 313 are made of steel membersconfigured with i-beam cross sections. The i-beam cross sectionsincrease the structural rigidity of the base frame members 313 to allowthe base frame 312 to support the entire weight of the tank 300.

The sled frame 314 is sufficiently rigid to serve as the primarystructure support for the tank 300 when the tank 300 is connected to thelifting device 200 and the dolly 400 in order to be transported by thetruck 100. The sled frame 314 serves as the primary frame members thatwould ordinarily be present in a conventional semi-tractor trailer.

Support members 315 are secured between the bottom 343 of thecylindrical wall 317 and the base frame members 313 of the base frame312. The support members 315 hold the tank 300 in place above the baseframe 312 and serve to further increase the structural rigidity of thebase frame 312 when the tank 300 is connected to the lifting device 200and the dolly 400 in order to be transported by the truck 100.

In a preferred embodiment, as set out more fully in FIG. 19A below thetank lifting bar 320 is cylindrical to allow the tank lifting bar 320 toeasily be connected to the bar tank grapplers 215 of the removable liftsystem 200. As can be more easily seen in FIGS. 18A through 18F, as thetank grapplers 215 are attached to the tank lifting bar 320 and used tolift the tank 300, the tank lifting bar 320 can rotate with respect tothe tank grapplers 215 to accommodate the change in angle as the tanklifting bar 320 is lifted off of the ground and the opposite end withthe base frame 312 remains on the ground.

The tank lifting bar 320 holds a lifting line panel 322 that can rotatewith respect to the tank lifting bar 320. As can be seen in FIG. 11, alifting line 324 is connected to the lifting line panel 322 via alifting line panel hole 326 on the lifting line panel 322 by any meansknown in the art. In a preferred embodiment, one end of the lifting line324 is passed through the lifting line panel hole 326 and formed into aloop 328 and secured against itself by any means known in the art,including clamp, hook, clasp or other temporary fastener or a permanentbond such as welding. A side access door 372 is connected to thecylindrical wall 317 of the tank 300 in order to allow access to theinterior of the tank 300 to facilitate cleaning or debris removal.

FIG. 12 is a bottom view of the vertical tank 300 showing the attachedbase frame 312. The tank base frame 312 includes a plurality of rigidstructural members, including a tank base first bar 350 and a tank basesecond bar 352. In a preferred embodiment, the tank base first bar 350,made of cylindrical tubing, is parallel to the tank base second bar 352,made of square tubing, and both the tank base first bar 350 and the tankbase second bar 352 are rigidly incorporated into the tank base frame312. In an alternative embodiment, the tank base second bar 352 can alsobe made of cylindrical tubing. A tank base first lower bracket 356 and atank base second lower bracket 357 are attached to the tank base firstbar 350 a fixed distance 360 apart from one another. The tank base firstlower bracket 356 and the tank base second lower bracket 357 each have athrough hole 358 (shown in dashed lines) sized to receive a fastener 450(shown in dashed lines) such as a bolt or pin. The tank base first lowerbracket 356 and tank base second lower bracket 357 have a thickness 359.The thickness 359 is thick enough to ensure that the brackets 356 and357 can be connected to a dolly 400 as set forth more fully below.

A tank base first upper bracket 354 and a second tank base upper bracket355 are rigidly attached to the tank base second bar 352 a fixeddistance 360 apart from one another. The tank base first upper bracket354 and the tank base second upper bracket 356 each have a through hole358 (shown in dashed lines) sized to receive a fastener 450 (shown indashed lines) such as a bolt or pin. The tank base first upper bracket354 and second tank base upper bracket 355 each also has a thickness359.

In a preferred embodiment, the fixed distance 360 between the first andsecond tank base lower brackets is identical to the fixed distance 360between the first and second tank base upper brackets. However, thesedistances may vary depending on the corresponding of the spacing betweenbrackets located on a removable dolly 400 as set forth more fully below,or on other design considerations.

In a preferred embodiment, the thickness 359 of the tank base firstlower bracket 356 and second tank base lower bracket 357 is the same asthe thickness 359 of the tank base first upper bracket 354 and thesecond tank base upper bracket 355. However, these thicknesses may alsovary depending on the geometry of the brackets of the removable dolly400 set forth below, or based on other design considerations.

Dolly

Referring next to FIG. 13, an isometric view of a dolly 400 is generallydisclosed. In its most basic form, the dolly 400 consists of a chassis410, axle 470, and at least one wheel 495 on each side of the axle 470and a plurality of dolly brackets 480. The chassis 410 includes a topframe 420 and a tank connector frame 440. For increased rigidity, thedolly 400 can have a reservoir frame 460. In a preferred embodiment, thetop frame 420 and tank connector frame 440 are made of square steelstock.

Referring next to FIG. 13-1, the dolly frame of dolly 400 is generallyshown and made up of the top frame 420, tank connector frame 440, andreservoir frame 460. The top frame 420 is shown with an upper tankconnector frame rail 422, a right side frame rail 424, a left side framerail 426, a middle frame rail 428, and a rear frame rail 430. The uppertank connector frame rail 422, the right side frame rail 424, the leftside frame rail 426, the middle frame rail 428, and the rear frame rail430 each have a front, a back, a top, a bottom, and a first end and asecond end.

The first end of the upper tank connector frame rail 422 is attached theback of the left side frame rail 426 such that the front of the uppertank connector frame rail 422 is flush with the first end of the leftside frame rail 426. The second end of the upper tank connector framerail 422 is attached the back of the right side frame rail 424 such thatthe front of the upper tank connector frame rail 422 is flush with thefirst end of the right side frame rail 424.

The first end of the middle frame rail 428 is attached to the back ofthe left side frame rail 426 approximately midway between the first endand the second end of the left side frame rail 426. The second end ofthe middle frame rail 428 is attached to the back of the right sideframe rail 424 approximately midway between the first end and the secondend of the right side frame rail 424.

The first end of the rear frame rail 430 is attached to the back of theleft side frame rail 426 such the back of the rear frame rail 430 isflush with the second end of the left side frame rail 426. The secondend of the rear frame rail 430 is attached to the back of the right sideframe rail 424 such the back of the rear frame rail 430 is flush withthe second end of the right side frame rail 424.

In a preferred embodiment, the upper tank connector frame rail 422,right side frame rail 424, left side frame rail 426, middle frame rail428, and rear frame rail 430 are assembled together by the processes ofwelding to form a rigid top frame rail.

Tank Connector Frame

The tank connector frame 440 is comprised of the upper tank connectorframe rail 422 of the top frame 420, a lower tank connector frame rail442, a right tank connector frame rail 462 and a left tank connectorframe rail 464. The upper tank connector frame rail 422, lower tankconnector frame rail 442, right tank connector frame rail 444 and lefttank connector frame rail 446 each have a front, a back, a top, abottom, and first end and a second end.

The first end of the left tank connector frame rail 446 is attached tothe bottom of the left side frame rail 426 such that the front of theleft tank connector frame rail 446 is flush with the first end of theleft side frame rail 426 and the front of the upper tank connector framerail 422. The first end of the right tank connector frame rail 444 isattached to the bottom of the right side frame rail 424 such that thefront of the right tank connector frame rail 462 is flush with the firstend of the right side frame rail 424 and the front of the upper tankconnector frame rail 422.

The first end of the lower tank connector frame rail 442 is attached tothe bottom of the left tank connector frame rail 446 such that the frontof the lower tank connector frame rail 442 is flush with the front ofthe left tank connector frame rail 446. The second end of the lower tankconnector frame rail 442 is attached to the bottom of the right tankconnector frame rail 444 such that the front of the lower tank connectorframe rail 442 is flush with the front of the right tank connector framerail 444.

In a preferred embodiment, the upper tank connector frame rail 422,lower tank connector frame rail 442, right tank connector frame rail 444and left tank connector frame rail 446 are assembled together by theprocesses of welding to form a rigid tank connector frame rail.

Reservoir Frame

In a preferred embodiment, the dolly chassis is completed by theaddition includes a reservoir frame 460 made up of a first reservoirframe member 462 and a second reservoir frame member 464. The firstreservoir frame member 462 and the second reservoir frame member 464have a front, a back, a top, a bottom and a first end and a second end.The first ends of the first and second reservoir frame members 462 and464 are attached to the front of the middle frame rail 428 of the topframe 420. The second ends of the first and second reservoir framemembers 462 and 464 are attached to the back of the lower tank connectorframe rail 442 of the tank connector frame 440.

The first and second reservoir frame members 462 and 464 also reinforcethe dolly chassis 410 by ensuring that the tank connector frame 440 isbraced against top frame 420 through the reservoir frame 460.

Brackets

Referring next to FIG. 14, a front view of the dolly 400 is generallyshown and described with a plurality of dolly brackets 480. In apreferred embodiment, the dolly brackets 480 consist of a first upperdolly bracket 482, a second upper dolly bracket 484, a first lower dollybracket 486 and a second lower dolly bracket 488. A first dolly upperbracket 482 is attached to the first edge of the left frame rail 426 andpart of the front of the left tank connector frame rail 446 of the tankconnector frame 440 of the dolly chassis 410. A second dolly upperbracket 484 is attached to the first edge of the right frame rail 424and part of the front of the right tank connector frame rail 444 of thetank connector frame 440 of the dolly chassis 410. Also shown in FIG. 14are a signal light support plate 452 housing signal lights 454. Thefront signal light support plate is mounted on the back of the uppertank connector frame rail 422, right tank connector frame rail 444 andleft tank connector frame rail 446.

As can be seen in FIG. 14-1, the first and second dolly upper brackets482 and 484 have a first plate 483 and a second plate 485 separated by adistance corresponding to the tank base bracket thickness 359 of thetank base first upper bracket 354 and the tank base second upper bracket355 respectively. The first dolly upper bracket 482 and second dollyupper bracket 484 each have a curved surface 489 designed to rest flushon the tank base second bar 352 of a tank. The first and second dollyupper brackets 482 and 484 each have a through hole 487 sized to receivea fastener 450 such as a bolt or pin. In a preferred embodiment, thefirst and second dolly upper brackets 482 and 484 are connected to thedolly by welds.

As can be seen in FIGS. 14-1 and 14-2, the dolly 400 contemplated in thepresent invention can be attached to a vertical tank 300 by slidablyinserting the first plate 483 and second plate 485 of the first andsecond upper dolly brackets 482 and 484 over first and second tank baseupper brackets 354 and 355 respectively such that the through holes 358of the tank base upper brackets 354 and 355 are each aligned with thethrough holes 487 of the first plates 483 and second plates 485 of thefirst and second upper dolly brackets 482 and 484. The curved surface489 then rests flush on the surface of the tank base second bar 352, andsecured with fastener 450 and secured in place with retaining clip 451.

As can be seen in FIG. 14-3, a first dolly lower bracket 486 is attachedto the front of the left tank connector frame rail 446 adjacent thefront of the lower tank connector frame rail 442. A second dolly lowerbracket 488 is attached to the front of the right tank connector framerail 444 adjacent the lower tank connector frame rail 442. The first andsecond dolly lower brackets 486 and 488 have a first plate 483 and asecond plate 485. The first plate 483 and the second plate 485 of thedolly lower brackets are separated by a distance 359 corresponding tothe thickness of the tank base first lower bracket 356 and the tank basesecond lower bracket 357 respectively. For additional strength, in analternative embodiment, the first plate 483 and second plate 485 have asupport plate 481 rigidly connecting the first plate 483 and secondplate 485 together. The first dolly lower bracket and the second dollylower bracket each have a curved surface 489 to rest on the tank basefirst bar 350 of a tank. The first and second dolly lower brackets 486and 488 each have a through hole 487 sized to receive a fastener 450such as a bolt or pin. In a preferred embodiment the first and seconddolly upper brackets 486 and 488 are connected to the dolly by welds.

As can be seen in FIGS. 14-3 and 14-4, the dolly 400 contemplated in thepresent invention can be further attached to vertical tank 300 byslidably inserting the first plate 483 and second plate 485 of the firstand second lower dolly brackets 486 and 488 over first and second tankbase lower brackets 356 and 357 respectively such that the through holes358 of the tank base lower brackets 356 and 357 are each aligned withthe through holes 487 of the first plates 483 and second plates 485 ofthe first and second lower dolly brackets 486 and 488. The curvedsurface 489 then rests flush on the surface of the tank base first bar350.

Boom Lift Guides

Referring to FIG. 15, a rear view of the dolly is shown. Mounted to thebottom of the axle housing 472 is a boom guide made up of a right boomguide 474 and a left boom guide 473. As set forth more fully below, theleft and right boom guides 473 and 474 help facilitate the centering ofthe extendable boom lift 285 underneath the dolly 400 for purposes oftransporting the dolly 400 without a tank 300 and prevents the dolly 400from shifting during transport.

Also shown in FIG. 15 are a rear signal support plate 456 mounted to therear frame rail 430 (not shown). The rear signal support plate 456houses rear signal lights 458. Mud flap bars 457 also extend from therear signal support plate 456. Mud flaps 459 hang from the mid flap bars457.

Brakes

Referring now to FIG. 16, a top view of the dolly 400 is generallyshown. Air brakes are commonly used in large semi-tractor trailer truckrigs. In the present invention, it is advantageous to utilize an airbrake system on the dolly 400 because of the weight of the tank 300itself. It is common for semi-tractor trucks to be equipped with airbrakes and to have service lines connecting compressed air to an airbrake system for the trailer. Therefore, in a preferred embodiment, thedolly 400 is equipped with an air brake system 500 comprising an airreservoir 502, an air relay 504, a supply line 506, a control line 508,a left brake chamber 512 and a right brake chamber 514, and a left airbrake 516 (not show) and a right air brake 518 (not shown). Compressedair is delivered from the supply line 506 and control line 508 to theair relay 504. From the air relay 504, compressed air is delivered tothe air reservoir 502 and to the left and right brake chambers 512 and514 when needed. The air relay 504 is mounted to the air reservoir 502,which in turn is mounted on the first and second reservoir frame members462 and 464. The air relay 504 is connected by air hoses 520 to the leftand right brake chambers 512 and 514.

The left and right air brakes 516 and 518 are applied when the left andright brake chambers 512 and 514 are void of compressed air. In theabsence of compressed air, springs housed within the left and rightbrake chambers 512 and 514 act on push rods 520 and 522, which in turnact on the left and right brakes, respectively.

When the dolly 400 is connected to a tank 300 in order to transport thetank 300, utility lines 532 run from the rear service panel 295 of theremovable lift system 200 to the dolly service line panel 530.

When the parking brake is released by the operator of the truck,compressed air is delivered through the supply line 506 to the relay504, which in turn releases pressurized air from the air reservoir 502to the left and right brake chambers 512 and 514, pressurizing thechambers and compressing the springs thereby moving the pushrods 522away from the left and right brakes 516 and 518 causing the brakes todisengage allowing the wheels to rotate freely.

In order to apply the brakes during use, compressed air is deliveredthrough the control line 508 to the relay 504, which in turn causescompressed air to be slowly released from the left and right brakechambers 512 and 514, thereby allowing the springs to act on thepushrods 522, which in turn cause the left and right air brakes 516 and518 to slowly engage, causing the brakes 516 and 518 to be applied toreduce the wheel 495 rotation speed.

There are a variety of brake systems known in the art for semi-tractortrailer rigs. The braking system disclosed herein is only one such setup for an air brake trailer system and other systems are contemplatedwithout departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Suspension

Referring to FIG. 17, a plurality of suspension brackets are shownmounted on the bottom of the left and right frame rails. Leaf springsuspensions 492 are mounted on the suspension brackets 491 on the leftand right frame rails 426 and 424. The axle housing 472 is mounteddirectly to the leaf spring suspension 492 by way of axle brackets 493.Within the axle housing 472 is a rotating axle 470 terminating in a leftwheel hub 496 and a right wheel hub 497. Enclosed within the left andright wheel hubs 496 and 497 are the left and right air brakes 516 and518 and the left and right wheels 495.

The use of leaf spring suspension in the preferred embodiment is notmeant to be limiting and various other vehicle suspensions areconsidered without departing from the scope and spirit of the presentinvention. The use of a spring and shocks suspension, air bagsuspension, or any other type of suspension system known in the art iscontemplated.

Method of Removing Dolly from Tank Using Removable Lift System

FIGS. 18A-18F shows the method of removing an attached dolly 400 from atank 300 using the removable lift system 200. FIG. 18A depicts asemi-tractor truck 100 transporting a tank 300 using the industrial tanktransport system of the present invention. As can be seen in FIG. 18,the dolly 400 is attached to the base frame 312 of the tank 300 and theremovable lift system 200 is attached to the semi-tractor truck 100 viathe fifth wheel 158 and to the tank lifting bar 320 of the tank via thetank grapplers 215, thereby creating the industrial tank transportsystem, able to transport a tank 300 without a trailer. As can be seenin FIG. 18A, the tank 300 is oriented in a transport position 600 suchthat the sled frame 314 of the tank 300 is generally parallel to andabove the ground. The transport position 600 allows sufficient clearance603 between the sled frame 314 and the ground 30 to allow thesemi-tractor truck 100 to transport the tank 300 using the dolly 200 andremovable lift system 200 on roads and highways. Once in thetransportation position, the removable lift system 200, tank 300 anddolly 400 are effectively converted into a functional semi-tractortrailer where the tank 300 has a height 611 from the ground 30 In anembodiment, a tank 300 is sized to maximize the height 611 to just undermaximum clearance limits of major roadways.

Upon arriving at a work site, the semi-tractor truck 100 with attachedtank 300 is driven to where the tank 300 is to be located. Once at thedesired location, the semi-tractor truck 100 backs up the tank 300 tothe location.

As can be seen in FIG. 18B, the removable lift system 200 then lifts thetank 300 in an upward direction 601 from the transport position 600 to afirst inclined position 602. After the tank 300 has been lifted to thefirst inclined position 602, the sufficient clearance 603 is increasedto a second sufficient clearance 607 in order to allow a pivot block 604to be placed directly under the sled frame 314 of the tank 300.

As can be seen in FIG. 18C, the tank 300 is then lowered in direction605 from the first inclined position 602 to the first declined position606 such that the tank 300 rotates about the pivot block 604 and theweight of the tank 300 rests on the pivot block 604 instead of thefasteners 450 connecting the dolly brackets 482, 484, 486 and 488 to thetank brackets 354, 355, 356 and 357 respectively. In the first declinedposition 606, the vertical lift bar 320 is near the ground and the baseof the tank 300 and the attached dolly 400 is in contact with the groundsuch that the first and second dolly lower brackets 486 and 488 securedto the tank base first and second lower brackets 356 and 357 withfasteners 450 is easily removed to disengage the first and second dollylower brackets 486 and 488 from the tank base first and second lowerbrackets 356 and 357.

As can be seen in FIG. 18D, after removing the fasteners 450 securingthe first and second dolly lower brackets 486 and 488 to the tank basefirst and second lower brackets 356 and 357, the tank 300 is raised indirection 601 by the removable lift system 200 to a second inclinedposition 608 which is reached when the tank base 312 is in contact withthe ground at a point of contact 912. As the tank base moves towards theground, the first and second dolly lower brackets 486 and 488 disengageand separate from the tank base first and second lower brackets 356 and357.

As can be seen in FIG. 18E, once the tank base is in contact with theground, the fasteners 450 attaching the first and second dolly upperbrackets 482 and 484 to the tank base first and second upper brackets354 and 355 are easily removed. Removing the fasteners 450 from thefirst and second dolly upper brackets 482 and 484 and the tank basefirst and second upper brackets 354 and 355 allows the dolly 400 tocompletely detach from the tank 300. The dolly 400 is then manuallyrolled away from the tank 300 in an away direction 612 and the pivotblock 604 is removed.

Finally, as can be seen in FIG. 18F, after the dolly is removed from thetank 300, the tank 300 is lowered by the removable lift system 200 to aresting position 610 such that the sled frame 314 of the tank 300 restson the ground.

As can be seen in FIGS. 19A through 19C, the tank grapplers 215 are thendetached from the tank lifting bar 320 of the tank 300. FIG. 19A showstank grapplers 215 in the closed position 216 and held in place bygrappler fasteners 218. It is appreciated that grappler fasteners 218can be any fasteners known in the art such as pins or bolts.

As next seen in FIG. 19B, grappler fasteners 218 are removed from thetank grapplers 215. Next, the grapplers 215 are moved from a closedposition 216 to an open position 217. This allows the transverse liftingbar 290 to be moved downward in direction 605.

Finally, as can be seen in FIGS. 19B and 19C, the transverse lifting bar290 of the removable lift system 200 is then lowered in a downwarddirection 605 and then moved away in a retract direction 614 from thetank lifting bar 320 of the tank 300. Once complete, the semi-tractortruck 100 and removable lift system 200 are completely detached from thetank 300 and the tank 300 is ready to be lifted into a verticalposition.

Method of Mounting the Dolly to the Removable Lift System forTransportation

FIGS. 20A-20C depicts the method of mounting the dolly 400 to theremovable lift system 200 for transport.

After the tank 300 is detached from the doily 400 and the removable liftsystem 200, the dolly 400 and the removable lift system 200 are notneeded to lift the vertical tank from a horizontal position 900 to avertical position 902. If another lifting device is on site to lift thetank 300, then the dolly 400 simply needs to be mounted to the removablelift system 200 for transport. First, as seen in FIG. 20A the truck 100moves in a reverse direction 804 with the tank grapplers 215 of theremovable lift system 200 in the open position 217. As can be seen inFIG. 20A, the lifting device has a utility lines 532 that include aservice line supply line 274, a control line 275 and a signal line 276running from the front service panel 270 (not visible from view) to arear service panel 295.

Next, as seen in FIG. 20B, the transverse lifting bar 290 is extendedunderneath the dolly 400 by the extendable boom lift 285 of theremovable lift system 200 with the tank grapplers 215 in the openposition 217 until the tank grapplers 215 are directly underneath thetank connector frame 440 of the dolly 400. First cross section takenalong the lines 1-1 in FIG. 20B can be seen in FIG. 20D. In FIG. 20D,the extendable boom lift 285 is guided by the left and right boom guides473 and 474 such that the extendable boom lift 285 will be centered onthe axle housing 472 of the dolly 400.

A supply line 532 can be connected between the dolly service line panel530 and the rear service panel 295 of the lifting device 200 such thatthe front signal lights 454 of the dolly are operational.

As seen in FIG. 20C, the tank grapplers 215 are then moved from the openposition 217 to the closed position 216 such that the tank grapplers 215secure the lower tank connector frame rail 444 of the tank connectorframe 440 of the dolly 400. The tank grapplers 215 and the left andright boom guides 473 and 474 serve to securely connect the dolly 400 tothe removable lift system 200 and allow for transport. Finally, thedolly 400 then can be raised in direction 601 by the removable liftsystem 200 to transportation position 267 such that the dolly 400 can betransported.

Method of Removing the Removable Lift System from the Semi-Tractor Truck

FIGS. 21A through 21H generally depict the method of removing theremovable lift system 200 form the semi-tractor truck 100.

FIG. 21A depicts the removable lift system 200 in a transportationposition 267. First, the removable lift system 200 needs to beconfigured from a transportation position 267 to a storage position 268.As depicted in FIG. 21B, the dolly 400 is lowered in a downwarddirection 605 by the removable lift system 200 until the wheels 495 ofthe dolly 400 are in contact with the ground.

Next, the boom lift stands 231 are reconfigured such that the boom liftstand feet 233 are in contact with the ground. As depicted in FIG. 21C,the process for configuring the boom lift stands 231 from thetransportation position 267 to the storage position 268 is shown ingreater detail. In the transportation position 267, the adjustable boomlift stand foot 233 faces upwards. In the storage position 268, theadjustable boom lift stand foot 233 is adjusted toward the ground suchthat when the removable lift system 200 is removed from the semi-truck100, the adjustable boom lift stand foot 233 will rest on the ground.

To convert the removable lift system 200 from a transportation position267 to a storage position 268, first, the boom lift stand pin 245 isremoved from the boom lift hole 244 of the boom lift stand collar 234and transverse stay beam 230. Second, the boom lift stand collar 234 isslid in an off direction 246 until the boom lift stand collar 234 isfree from the transverse stay beam 230. Third, the boom lift stand 231is rotated 180 degrees, as shown in FIG. 21E such that the adjustableboom lift stand foot 233 faces the ground. Fourth, as shown in FIG. 21F,the boom lift stand collar 234 is slid in an on direction 248 until theboom lift stand collar 234 is back on the transverse stay beam 230.Fifth, a boom lift stand pin 245 is placed back through the boom lifthole 244 of the boom lift stand collar 234 and transverse stay beam 230in order to secure the adjustable boom lift stand collar 234 in place.Sixth, the boom lift stand foot 233 is adjusted by pulling a boom liftstand pin 245 from the boom lift stand hole 238 and lower the boom liftfoot 233 until it nearly touches the ground. Finally, the boom liftstand pin 245 is passed through the boom lift stand hole 238 securingthe boom lift stand foot 233 in place. The process is repeated for theadjustable boom lift stand 231 on the opposite side of the transversestay beam 230.

Once the boom lift left stands 231 are in the storage position 268 andthe wheels 495 are in contact with the ground, the stay collar pins 192are pulled from the stay collar holes 190 which had secured the leftframe rail 222 and the right frame rail 224 of the removable lift system200 to the left and right stay collars 150 and 151 respectively. Nextthe truck air supply line 174, truck air control line 176, truckelectrical signal line 178 and truck hydraulic lines 179 are alldisconnected from the front service panel 270 of the removable liftsystem 200.

Referring next to FIG. 21G, the semi-tractor truck 100 then drives in aforward direction 806 away from the removable lift system 200 causingthe fifth wheel 158 of the truck 100 to release the kingpin 242 of theremovable lift system 200. As the truck 100 drives away from theremovable lift system, the left and right frame rails 222 and 224 of theremovable lift system slide free of the left and right stay collars 150and 151 of the semi-tractor truck 100 and the kingpin plate 240 of theremovable lift system 200 slides free of the fifth wheel 158 of thesemi-tractor truck 100.

As depicted in FIG. 21H, the semi-tractor truck 100 is now fullydetached from the removable lift system 200, which in turn rests on theground via the boom lift feet 233 and the wheels 495 of the dolly 400.The semi-tractor truck 100 is now ready to be used to raise or lower atank 300 as set forth more fully below.

Method of Raising a Vertical Tank from a Horizontal Position to aVertical Position

As seen in FIG. 22A, winch cable end loop 194 of winch cable 157 of thesemi-tractor truck 100 is connected to the lifting line fastener 325 ofthe lifting line 324 of the tank 300 in order to allow the winch 156 toact on the lifting line 324 of the tank 300.

FIGS. 22A through 22E generally depict the method of raising the tank300 from a horizontal position 900 to a vertical position 902 using thesemi-tractor truck 100 of the present invention.

After removing the removable lift system 200 from the semi-tractor truck100 as set forth more fully above, the semi-tractor truck 100 is readyto lift tank 300 from a horizontal position 900 to a vertical position902. When the removable lift system 200 is first removed from thesemi-tractor truck 100, the adjustable tail roller 160 of thesemi-tractor truck 100 is in the flush position 164.

In a preferred embodiment, winch cable 157 of the semi-tractor truck 100terminates in winch cable end loop 194 and lifting line 324 of the tank300 terminates in lifting line fastener 325. The lifting line fastener325 can be any number of cable fasteners known in the art. In oneembodiment, the lifting line faster is simply a loop at the end of thelifting line 325 that passes through a carabiner or other easilyremovable cable fastener.

As seen in FIG. 22A, winch cable end loop 194 of winch cable 157 of thesemi-tractor truck 100 is connected to the lifting line fastener 325 ofthe lifting line 324 of the tank 300 in order to allow the winch 156 toact on the lifting line 324 of the tank 300.

As seen in FIG. 22B, the adjustable tail roller 160 is then rotated fromthe flush position 164 to an angled position 166. The adjustable tailroller 160 can be moved from the flush position 164 to the angledposition 166 either manually or through hydraulic assist.

Next, as seen in FIG. 22C, winch cable 157 is wound by winch 156 inwinding direction 800, which in turn pulls on the lifting line 324,which in turn pulls on the lifting line panel 322 allowing the liftingline 324 to be wound on the winch 156. As the lifting line 324 is woundby the winch 156, the tank 300 is pulled up and over the adjustable tailroller 160 such that the sled frame 314 of the tank 300 is in contactwith the adjustable rail roller 160. It is important to adjust theadjustable tail roller 160 to the angled position 166 such that when theadjustable tail roller 160 is placed in contact with the tank 300 thesemi-tractor truck 100 will be able to raise the tank 300 to acontrollable tipping position 904. If the adjustable tail roller 160 wasnot adjusted to the angled position 166, the act of lifting the tank 300could cause the tank 100 to improperly come into contact with variouscomponents of the semi-tractor truck, such as the fifth wheel 158. Theangled position 166 also allows the semi-tractor truck to move the tankto a controllable tipping position 904.

As seen in FIG. 22D, the semi-tractor truck 100 then moves in reversedirection 804 causing the adjustable tail roller 160 to push the tank100 into a controllable tipping position 904. As the semi-tractor truck100 moves in a reverse direction 804, the lifting line 324 is moved inan unwinding direction 802 to maintain tension in the lifting line 324,but allow the tank to continue to rise up to the controllable tippingposition 904.

Finally, as seen in FIG. 22E, once in the controllable tipping position904, gravity acts on the tank 300 and causes it to rotate in direction906 from the controllable tipping position 904 until the tank base frame312 comes into contact with the ground and the tank is in the verticalposition 902. As the tank 300 rotates from the controllable tippingposition 904 to the vertical position 902, the winch 156 is reversedcausing the lifting line 324 to move in an unwinding direction 802thereby controlling the rotation of the tank 300 as gravity pulls thetank 300 towards the vertical position 902. Once the tank 300 is in thevertical position 902, the winch cable 157 is disconnected from thelifting line 324. The semi-tractor truck 100 can then be re-attached tothe removable lift system 200 and dolly 400.

Method of Lowering a Vertical Tank from a Vertical Position to aHorizontal Position

FIGS. 23A through 23F generally depict the method of lowering the tank300 from a vertical position 902 to a horizontal position 900 using thesemi-tractor truck 100 of the present invention.

After removing the removable lift system 200 from the semi-tractor truck100 as set forth more fully above, the semi-tractor truck 100 is readyto lower tank 300 from a vertical position 902 to a horizontal position900. When the removable lift system 200 is first removed from thesemi-tractor truck 100, the adjustable tail roller 160 of thesemi-tractor truck 100 is in the flush position 164.

The adjustable tail roller 160 is rotated from the flush position 164 toan angled position 166. The adjustable tail roller 160 can be moved fromthe flush position 164 to the angled position 166 either manually orthrough hydraulic assist.

As seen in FIG. 23A, the semi-tractor truck 100 is then positioned withrespect to the tank 300 such that the adjustable tail roller 160 in theangled position 166 comes into contact with the sled frame 314 of thetank 300.

The winch cable end loop 194 of the winch cable 157 of the semi-tractortruck 100 is then connected to the lifting line fastener 325 of thelifting line 324 of the tank 300.

As seen in FIG. 23B, the winch cable 157 and lifting line 324 are woundby winch 156 in winding direction 800, causing the base frame 312 of thetank to rotate off of the ground in rotation direction 910 about thepoint of contact 912 between the based frame 312 and the sled frame 314.

As seen in FIGS. 23C and 23D, the semi-tractor truck 100 then begins tomove in a forward direction 806 causing the adjustable tail roller 160to roll along the sled frame 314 which controls the tank 300 as itcontinues to rotate in a downward direction 914. The semi-tractor truck100 continues moving in forward direction 806 until the winch 156 isreversed to an unwinding direction 802 allowing the adjustable tailroller 160 to continue to roll along the sled frame 314 until the tanklifting bar 320 is past the adjustable tail roller 160 as seen in FIG.23E. Once the tank lifting bar 320 has passed over the adjustable tailroller 160, the tank 300 can be easily lowered in downward direction 914until the tank sled frame 314 is in contact with the ground and the tank300 is in the horizontal position 900, as shown in FIG. 23F.

Method of Attaching the Removable Lift System to the Semi-Tractor Truck

FIGS. 24A through 24D generally depict the method of attaching theremovable lift system 200 to the semi-tractor truck 100.

FIG. 24A is a left side view of the semi-tractor truck 100 and removablelift system 200. As depicted in FIG. 24A, the semi-tractor truck 100 isshown fully detached from the removable lift system 200, which is shownresting on the ground via the boom lift feet 233 and the wheels 495 ofthe dolly 400. The semi-tractor truck 100 has the adjustable tail roller160 in the flush position 164 and is oriented such that left and rightstay collars 150 and 151 are generally aligned with the pyramidal tips229 of the left and right aligning rails 226 and 228. The right staycollar 151 and right aligning rail 228 are not visible from the leftside view.

As seen in FIG. 24B, the semi-tractor truck 100 then begins to move in areverse direction 804 in order to allow the pyramidal tips 229 of theleft and right aligning rails 226 and 228 of the removable lift system200 to slidably insert into the left and right stay collars 150 and 151respectively of the semi-tractor truck 100. As the pyramidal tips 229come into contact with the stay collars 150 and 151, the pyramidal tips229 guide the left and right aligning rails 226 and 228 through the leftand right stay collars 150 and 151. As the semi-tractor truck 100continues to move in reverse direction 804, the kingpin plate 240 of theremovable lift system 200 comes into contact with the fifth wheel 158 ofthe semi-tractor truck 100 and the kingpin 242 is slidably inserted intothe fifth wheel slot 159 (not shown in this Figure).

As seen in FIG. 24C, the semi-tractor truck 100 stops moving in reversedirection 804 when the kingpin 242 of the removable lift system 200 isproperly seated in the fifth wheel 158 and the left and right aligningrails 226 and 228 are within the left and right stay collars 150 and 151such that the alignment holes 227 of the left and right alignment rails226 and 228 are in alignment with the stay collar holes 190, and staycollar pin 192 is inserted through stay collar holes 190 and alignmentrails 226 and 228. The removable lift system 200 is now securely mountedto the truck 100.

As seen in FIG. 24D, and with reference back to FIGS. 21A-21C forclarity, the adjustable boom lift stands 231 are moved from a storageposition 268 to a transportation position 267.

First, the boom lift stand foot 233 is adjusted until it is off theground and is then secured with a boom lift stand pin 245. Second, theboom lift stand pin 239 is removed from the boom lift stand collar 234and transverse stay beam 230. Third, the boom lift stand collar 234 isslid off of the transverse stay beam 230. Fourth, the boom lift stand231 is rotated 180 degrees such that the adjustable boom lift stand foot233 faces away from the ground. Fifth, the boom lift stand collar 234 isslid back on the transverse stay beam 230. Sixth, a boom lift stand pin239 is placed back through the boom lift stand collar 234 and transversestay beam 230 in order to secure the adjustable boom lift stand collar234 in place.

Next the truck air supply line 174, truck air control line 176, truckelectrical signal line 178 and truck hydraulic lines 179 are allconnected to the front service panel 270 of the removable lift system200. Once lines 174, 176, 178 and 179 have all been connected, theremovable lift system 200 is operable.

Finally, the dolly 400 is raised by the removable lift system 200 indirection 601 until the wheels 495 of the dolly 400 are sufficiently offthe ground enabling the semi-tractor truck 100 to transport the dolly400. Alternatively, the dolly 400 is not raised, but is instead removedsuch that the semi-tractor truck 100 and attached removable lift system200 can be used in combination to attached the dolly 400 to the tank 300as set forth more fully below.

Method of Attaching Dolly to Tank Using Removable Lift System

FIGS. 25A through 25E illustrate the method of attaching dolly 400 to atank 300 using the removable lift system 200.

FIG. 25A depicts a tank 300 with its sled frame 314 in contact with theground 30. First, the dolly 400 is moved in toward direction 616 suchthe dolly brackets 482, 484, 486, and 488 are generally facing the tankbase brackets 354, 355, 356, and 357.

As seen in FIG. 25B, and generally in FIGS. 14-1 and 14-2, the dolly 400is connected to the tank base frame 312 by way of the first and secondupper dolly brackets 482 and 484 with the tank base first and secondupper brackets 354 and 355.

Next the truck 100 equipped with a removable lift system 200 is moved inreverse direction 804 toward the tank lifting bar 320 with the tankgrapplers 215 in the open position 217.

Returning briefly to FIGS. 19A through 19C, the tank grapplers 215 areconnected to the tank lifting bar 320 of the tank 300 by the reverseprocess depicted in FIGS. 19A through 19C. The removable lift system 200is then secured to the tank lifting bar 320 of the tank 300 by movingthe tank grapplers 215 from an open position 217 to a closed position216 around the tank lifting bar 320.

As seen in FIG. 25C, the tank 300 is then lifted in upward direction 601by the removable lift system 200 such that the tank 300 pivots aboutpivot point 916 in order to allow the placement of pivot block 604underneath the sled frame 314 of the tank 300. Next, as depicted in FIG.25D, the tank is lowered by the removable lift system 200 in direction605 such that the tank lifting bar 320 is near the ground and the sledframe 314 rests and pivots on the pivot block 604. As the tank liftingbar 320 is lowered near the ground, the sled frame 314 of the tank 300pivots about the pivot block 604 causing the first and second lowerdolly brackets 486 and 488 to come into contact with the tank base firstand second lower brackets 356 and 357.

As seen in FIGS. 14-3 and 14-4, the first and second lower dollybrackets 486 and 488 are connected to the tank base first and secondlower brackets 356 and 357 using fasteners 450. Once the fasteners 450are installed, the dolly 400 is properly secured to the base frame 312of the tank 300. Next the tank 300 is raised sufficiently to remove thepivot block 604.

As seen in FIG. 25E, utility lines 532 are connected between the rearservice panel 295 of the removable lift system 200 and the dolly serviceline panel 530, enabling the air braking and electrical signals of thedolly 400 to be controlled by the operator of the semi-tractor truck 100from the cab portion 180 of the truck 100. The utility lines 532 includea supply line 274, a control line 275 and a single line 276. Once soconnected, the tank 300 is now ready for transportation by the truck 100without the use of a conventional semi-tractor trailer.

Closing

Where reference is made herein to a method comprising two or moredefined steps, the defined steps can be carried out in any order orsimultaneously (except where the context excludes that possibility), andthe method can include one or more other steps which are carried outbefore any of the defined steps, between two of the defined steps, orafter all the defined steps (except where the context excludes thatpossibility).

While there have been shown what are presently considered to bepreferred embodiments of the present invention, it will be apparent tothose skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can bemade herein without departing from the scope and spirit of theinvention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited as except bythe appended claims.

We claim:
 1. A method of transporting a tank without use of a trailer,comprising the steps of: (a) providing a tank in a vertical position andhaving a hollow body with a top, a bottom and a cylindrical side, saidtank has a base frame connected to said bottom and a sled frameconnected to said cylindrical side, and wherein a tank lifting bar isconnected to an end of said sled frame and said base frame is connectedto an opposite end of said sled frame, and wherein said base frame is ona ground; (b) lowering said tank to a horizontal position such that saidsled frame is on said ground and said base frame is substantiallyperpendicular to said ground; (c) providing a truck having a liftsystem; (d) attaching said lift system to said tank lifting bar of saidtank; (e) providing a dolly; (f) attaching said dolly to said base frameof said tank; and (g) lifting said tank lifting bar of said tank withsaid lift system until said tank is supported by said dolly and saidlift system above said ground for transport.
 2. The method of claim 1further comprising the steps of raising said tank lifting bar of saidtank and providing a pivot block underneath said sled frame of saidtank.
 3. The method of claim 2 further comprising the step of loweringsaid tank lifting bar to enable said tank to pivot about said pivotblock until said base frame of said tank is raised above said ground tofacilitate attaching said dolly to said tank.
 4. The method of claim 1further comprising connecting said lift system to said tank lifting barof said tank with tank grapplers.
 5. The method of claim 1 wherein saiddolly further comprises a frame; an axle within an axle housing; wheelsconnected to said axle; and a suspension connecting said axle to saidframe of said dolly.
 6. The method of claim 5 wherein said dolly furthercomprises a plurality of dolly brackets sized to receive correspondingtank brackets wherein said tank brackets are connecting said base frameof said tank to said dolly.
 7. The method of claim 6 further comprisingconnecting said dolly to said tank by fasteners through said dollybrackets and said tank brackets.
 8. The method of claim 5 furthercomprising the step of connecting a utility line between said truck andsaid dolly.
 9. A method of transporting a tank without use of a trailer,comprising the steps of: (a) providing a tank in a vertical position andhaving a hollow body with a top, a bottom and a cylindrical side, saidtank has a base frame connected to said bottom and a sled frameconnected to said cylindrical side, and wherein a tank lifting bar isconnected to an end of said sled frame and said base frame is connectedto an opposite end of said sled frame, and wherein said base frame is ona ground; (b) lowering said tank to a horizontal position such that saidsled frame is on said ground and said base frame is substantiallyperpendicular to said ground; (c) providing a truck; (d) providing aremovable lift system; (e) attaching said removable lift system to saidtruck; (f) attaching said removable lift system to said tank lifting barof said tank; (g) providing a dolly; (h) attaching said dolly to saidtank; and (i) lifting said tank lifting bar of said tank with said liftsystem until said tank is supported by said dolly and said lift systemabove said ground for transport.
 10. The method of claim 9 furthercomprising connecting said removable lift system to said tank liftingbar of said tank with tank grapplers.
 11. The method of claim 9 whereinsaid dolly further comprises a frame; an axle within an axle housing;wheels connected to said axle; and a suspension connecting said axle tosaid frame of said dolly.
 12. The method of claim 11 wherein said dollyfurther comprises a plurality of brackets sized to receive correspondingtank brackets connected to said base frame of said tank.
 13. The methodof claim 12 further comprising connecting said dolly to said tank byfasteners.
 14. The method of claim 11 further comprising the step ofconnecting a utility line between said truck and said dolly.
 15. Themethod of claim 14 wherein said dolly further comprises a brake system.16. The method of claim 14 wherein said dolly further comprises signallights.
 17. A method of transporting a tank without use of a trailer,comprising the steps of: (a) providing a tank on a ground wherein saidtank has a sled frame having a base frame and a tank lifting bar onopposite ends of said sled frame; (b) providing a truck having a liftsystem; (c) attaching said lift system to said tank lifting bar of saidtank; (d) providing a pivot block; (e) raising said tank lifting bar ofsaid tank and providing a pivot block underneath said sled frame of saidtank; (f) providing a dolly having a frame; an axle within an axlehousing; wheels connected to said axle; and a suspension connecting saidaxle to said frame of said dolly; (g) lowering said tank lifting bar toenable said tank to pivot about said pivot block until said base frameof said tank is raised above said ground to facilitate attaching saiddolly to said tank pivoting said tank on said pivot block to facilitateattaching said dolly to said tank; (h) attaching said dolly to saidtank; and (i) lifting said tank with said lift system to support saidtank above said ground on said dolly and said lift system for transport.18. The method of claim 17 further comprising the step of connecting autility line between said truck and said dolly.
 19. The method of claim18 wherein said dolly further comprises a brake system.
 20. The methodof claim 18 wherein said dolly further comprises signal lights.